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Roundup of Microsoft Research At TechFest 2009
An anonymous reader writes "Ars Technica has a very thorough post of some of the technologies that Microsoft researchers showed off at TechFest last week. 'The exact number of projects that were demonstrated at TechFest 2009 is not clear, but here's a quick rundown of about 35 research projects that haven't received much coverage, accompanied by links that will let you further explore if your interest is piqued. Remember that these are concepts and prototypes, not finished products, and they may never end up becoming anything significant.'" While Microsoft has been criticized for squandering a fortune on R&D, there can be no doubt that they are showing off some cool tech here.
Of course you mourn the demise of *BSD. It's only natural. Dealing with the death of an operating system close to you can be one of the most traumatic experiences of your life, and you're bound to go through a range of emotions. While you may be able to work through those feelings on your own, it's often helpful to talk to a friend, a family member, or a counselor. You might also seek out a support group for people who are grieving.
Grieving is a process, and it's totally normal to go through feelings of shock, sadness, anger even guilt. The healing process is different for everyone. It might take you six weeks to move on, or it might take you six years. Don't beat yourself up because you're not "over it" yet. It takes time to heal wounds.
So what else can you do to feel better? It might sound corny, but try writing a letter, making a collage, or planting a tree in memory of the operating system you've lost. Remembering and celebrating all the good things *BSD brought to your life might help give you some closure, and having a keepsake to honor *BSD may help you get through some tough times in the future when you'll be missing it.
It's true that life won't be the same without *BSD around. It may seem like you'll never feel better, but eventually you will. Take some comfort in the old saying, "Time heals all wounds," and remember that *BSD will always be with you in your heart.
Thinking the public cares about innovation is a big diversion from the real issues. Tell me the last time that someone selected a product because it was an original. If this was really the way the public was thinking than the iPod would be a bargain bin music player and the PS2 would live in the shadows of much older console blockbusting companies.
The whole monopoly thing is not only false but it's also a strawman to get the OSS cult to stomp it's feet.
And I'm seriously amazed through all of this bitching and moaning about lack of innovation, DRM, forced software and lock in you turn around and talk about running Apple. Where's the logic in that?
Just more anti-Microsoft FUD.
Reading things like this should give you a hint.
"I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
Actually, the last item on the list - just below "Profiling the Performance of Distributed Systems" is very relevant to their main source of revenue.
"Closing Thoughts"; how very appropriate.
"I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
transfer, Netscape at this point iirecoverable
It's like going to the restroom and unexpectedly finding your longtime neighbor who asks if he can watch you shower and take a dump. Even if he leaves after you tell him no, he shouldn't have been there in the first place. And you're never going to trust him again.
That's the best analogy of Microsoft I've ever heard.
BTW Google did something like that integrating gtalk into gmail. Like I'd want anyone to know when I'm checking my email. However, once you turn it off, it stays there and you basically never hear about it again unless you want to. Stupid idea, but at least they made the saving throw.
I've never experienced an automatic reboot as far as I can remember
In which case you are not applying critical patches and your machine is dangerously insecure.
No one should have funded all that crap on quantum mechanics back in the early part of the 20th century. No one could see far enough ahead to point to any useful trinkets for you to be blinded by.
Read again imbecile. Your whole rant is pointless because YOU AGREE WITH ME.
That is to say, I did not in any way attack R&D. I attacked Microsoft for doing deep R&D that THE HUMAN RACE WILL NEVER REALLY SEE OR USE. It's like the R&D tree falling in a forest, there is no sound nor other effect as far as humanity is concerned. All those cool things you read about might as well be in an SF story because, being within Microsoft R&D I can say wth certainty I'll never see them applied to anything I or anyone else outside Microsoft would use.
What if all the Quantum research had been done at Micrsoft? You wouldn't know of it to tout. If Descarte had been a Microsoft Fellow you could kiss your beloved coordinate syste goody.
I only savage you with ad-hominem attacks because you are so dangerously wrong, and seemingly seek to imperil that which you admire most. If Microsoft were the model for "real R&D" the human race would be screwed out of true advancement. Microsoft is engaging in the purest form of masturbatory R&D, instead of birthing new ideas and products which is much harder because it involves adding a dash of practicality into the bubbling cauldron of whimsical R&D.
Compare and contrast these cool things from Microsoft against something like Chrome from google which is actually shipping.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley